Monkey Mind Offensive to Monkeys? PART 4.

For the most part, the animal realm of rebirth, like that of the hell realms, is considered low, base, ignorant, undesirable in every way in Buddhism and Hinduism.

This, however, is where my personal philosophies depart more strongly from the Buddhadharma and are influenced by Native American philosophical systems, many of which through legend and narrative indicate animals in a place of wholeness and wisdom, and human beings at a deficit, confused and self destructive. I must say the evidence that most every other species on the planet is able to live harmoniously within their environment and respective ecosystem, without taking or killing more that is needed to survive, with the wisdom that they are but part of a greater sphere.

I would refrain from reciting certain lines when I was practicing with a Gelugpa group last year. We would repeat lines together, on of which explaining the harm of being reborn in the ignorant realms of animals, but I took offense to this line. I did not think animals were more ignorant than humans on all levels. Many human actions are so shallow and shortsighted, while many animals seem honed by qualities of innate wisdom and reflect balanced lives, undistracted by needless suffering and flashy technology, they do not appear to commit genocide, or rarely kill or cause harm without reason and mainly to serve needs of survival.

I think the term monkey mind is outdated and ignorant in itself. I don't think it fits the condition which it intends to describe, fully, and after reading into the Daoist texts and drawing my own conclusions I find it inept at assessing human deficiencies. Perhaps more apt would be "ADHD Teen Mind" or "Crack Fiend Mind" or ......?

Monkey Mind. Offensive to Monkeys? PART 3 Monkey King

(thanks for keeping it real dragon ball z)


The Monkey King or Sun Wukong of Chinese legend factors into Chinese folklore and Buddhist mythology as well. His is a character of supernatural strength and agility, able to shape shift and change forms not unlike Hanuman. The Monkey King is a trickster and trouble maker, even considered demonic, he threatens the peace of the Jade Emperor and the Heavens, until he is subdued and imprisoned by the Buddha. Eventually he serves a Buddhist monk on his quest to recover texts and is granted Buddhahood, pacifying his monkey mind entirely or one should think.

Here perhaps the idea behind monkey mind, not merely as a restless, talkative, ruminating mind, but as a tricky adversary comes into view, not unlike the Monkey King,  power hungry and hellbent on disturbing the peace of heaven through his amazing strength and power, must be imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha in order to be pacified. If this is a mythological reflection of the individual quest for enlightenment, I suppose the Monkey King serves as the parts of the ego which crave attention and recognition, as a monkey, being regarded as inferior, he does everything in his power to prove that he is "great," but his approach is naughty and "demonic." In spite of this, redemption is possible, in this case through service to the Dharma.

Perhaps Sun Wukong factors prominently in the Buddhist notions of the naughty, restless monkey mind, and the other Daoist perspectives of the monkey, meditative and harmonious with his environment are cast to the wayside in the development of Buddhist mythology, which often seems to see "animalia" as more of an unsavory other, beings cast into an unfortunate birth of ignorance and degrading karmic circumstances.

monkey mind, offensive to monkeys? Part 2 HANUMAN

Hanuman, the "monkey god" of the Hindu Pantheon, according to mythos, Hanuman has the many redeeming qualities of a modern day super hero: lightning speed, mountain uprooting strength and shape-shifting among others. He is known as a celibate fellow and may possibly be an avatar of Shiva, the meditation master, according to some sources.

Yet, here is a quote attributed to Hanuman in a text of mine, "We're All Doing Time" by Bo Lozoff:

"if it were just a matter of playing football with the firmament, stirring up the ocean, turning back rivers, carrying away mountains, seizing the moon, moving the polestar or shifting a planet, i could manage it easily enough, but if it comes to sitting still and meditating, i am bound to come off badly. it is quite against my nature to sit still."

This presents an opposing view to the Daoist related passage. Here Hanuman, and in essence all of "monkeydom" self reports an ADD like quality of being unable to maintain stillness and meditation. If this were the case I would have recommended a 'walking meditation' for Hanuman, but I do find the contrast in perspectives fascinating and wonder about the relative culture of the respective texts. It may be merely that in observing 'nature' and observing monkey behavior, primed by cultural and social perspectives, the Chinese view differs substantially from the Indian, this in turn shapes the characterizations and anthropomorphization of monkey characteristics and attributes. Similar to the idea that a cow's life is cheap in the West and sacred in India...

According to epithets attributed to Hanuman on Wikipedia:

• Manojavam, the one who is swift as mind (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
• Maarutatulyavegam, the one who has a speed equal to the wind God (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
• Jitendriyam, the one who has complete control on his senses (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
• Buddhimataamvarishtham, the one who is most senior among intellectuals (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
• Vaataatmajam, the one who is the son of wind God (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
• Vaanarayoothamukhyam, the one who is the chief of vanara army (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra). Similar in meaning to - Vaanaraanaamadheesham.
• Shreeraamadootam, the one who is the messenger of Rama (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra).
• Atulita Bala Dhaamam, the one who is the repository of incomparable strength.
• Hemshailaabha Deham, the one whose body resembles a golden mountain.
• Danujvana Krushanum, the one who is the destroyer of forces of demons.
• Gyaaninaam Agraganyam, the one who is considered foremost among knowledgeable beings.
• Sakala Guna Nidhaanam, the one who is the repository of all the virtues and good qualities.
• Raghupati Priya Bhaktam, the one who is the dearest of all devotees to Lord Rama.
• Sankata Mochana, the one who liberates (moca) from dangers (sankata)

Apparently being of monkey stock does not conflict with being an expert on the Vedas, being virtuous, devout, disciplined and chaste, which I feel contradicts the implication in the modern Buddhist usage. Naturally here we are observing Hindu perspectives on the deity, but Buddhism does not necessarily refute the presence and power of Hindu deities. 

The term "monkey mind" may reference cultural shifts in Asia away from a reverence of Nature. Or it may also reflect the views of a culture I have yet to explore or modern perspectives of captive monkeys as opposed to monkeys living harmoniously in nature. 

Monkey Mind. Offensive to Monekys? PART 1: MONKEY STYLE

Is the common reference in Buddhism to the chattering subconscious and distracted attention as being akin to the mindstate of a monkey even accurate? would monkeys find this expression offensive themselves? where did this expression begin and does it merely reflect the innate disdain of wild creatures prominent in many civilizations through development over time?

Well, I feel this is just plain WRONG. And harmful to monkeys. and I will briefly explore a few passages regarding the theme of monkeys.

The first text, a passage from "Chronicles of Tao" by Deng Ming Dao, chronicling the life of Daoist Monk and Martial Arts Master Saihung Gwuan, involves a description of martial art styles and attacks in the Kung Fu/Shaolin discipline, specifically from the "Monkey Master," I found the passage fascinating:

"The monkey master was a clown. seldom serious, he laughed and chattered constantly. living in a mud-walled hut set in a tiny, sun-dappled grove, he really looked like a lone ape. he had short, stubby legs, grotesquely long, dangling arms, and a pleasant, round face that seemed all the larger for the closely cropped hair. he loved to joke with his students and did dozens of flips and monkey imitations to entertain them.
the monkey style employed acrobatics, qinggong (the science of "lightening" oneself to jump great heights and distances), a loose body, concentrated mind and external strength. flexibility was paramount, and the monkey master felt that relaxation was imperative not only to the physical and mental states necessary for monkey boxing, but for spirituality as well. he explained by using monkeys as an example.
'Look at all you Taoist boys.' he giggled. 'someday you'll grow up to be priests with long lives of meditation. the monkeys have you beaten. they know meditation already.'
'If you look quietly in the forests, you can come across a monkey sitting by a stream, just staring. he's not moving, he's not doing anything. he's just sitting in complete stillness. just think- he didn't need a Taoist to teach him.
' Or you might see a monkey perched on a high treetop, completely lost in himself. he might be a hundred feet off the ground, but he won't fall because he has complete stillness. Just look at you fellows. why you can hardly stand properly!
' the monkey is totally relaxed. he is unafraid because he knows his intelligence makes him superior. the monkey knows strategy, instinctively understanding the saying 'I move after the enemy but arrive before him.' attack a monkey. he'll roll away, take a watchful posture. he'll stay there for hours or days until your next move. you can't catch him off guard. the instant you move, he'll respond more quickly than you anticipate."

the passage goes on to describe strikes in the 'monkey style.'

I was greatly impressed by this passage upon my first encounter. Here, in a few short paragraphs, a "Monkey Master" completely refutes the notion of monkeys being unfocused and chatty, hence "Monkey Mind," difficult to subdue, to an empty, meditative state, stating that the monkey is perfectly focused, clear and relaxed, completely immersed in his surroundings and ready for what life deals up next. This shatters the modern human impression of monkeys, especially as employed in Buddhist teachings.

Perhaps it is time to really study monkeys and observe their behavior before repeating ignorant human sentiments as teaching aids!

greetings

hello

through this blog i intend to collect and save notes and quotes which i have deemed important through this journey of existence. my main focus will be eastern philosophy and religion, namely buddhism, as I am more of a practicing buddhist than anything else...

A little more about me, I was once a religious studies major at the university of south florida, but took a hiatus because I though I was  'specialer' than my peers and thought i might like to 'physically' study religious practice and theory, rather than academically explore that subject. that journey took me to spend some time at a yoga ashram, do a 10 day meditation retreat and hang out with tibetans among other things...

well, anywho, here we are.

so come on down check it out and be here now...